Aa
results are in from liver biopsy and ultrasound
called the doctor and of course he wasnt in but i did get to talk to the nurse. found out i have port fiberosys and chronic hep c. stage 1 liver damage. the nurse said since i have chronic and in stage 1 he might recommend treatment. hopefully if i do get put on tx that it will get rid of the hep c but i am crossing my fingers.
does anyone know if i have to go in for the shots or do i do them at home.
does anyone know if i have to go in for the shots or do i do them at home.
Thank you for the explanation. I wasn't thinking that far, TP, I mean. Was wondering what it had to do with tx.
I'm glad that none of my children inherited the O neg from me, they are all O pos. But I did have some friends on standby while I was giving birth in Indonesia as only 0.0001 % of Indonesians are Rh negative. Fortunately I didn't need it.
Marcia
I'm glad that none of my children inherited the O neg from me, they are all O pos. But I did have some friends on standby while I was giving birth in Indonesia as only 0.0001 % of Indonesians are Rh negative. Fortunately I didn't need it.
Marcia
If HCV infection progresses to end-stage liver disease, the only cure would be transplant -- in which case someone with O negative blood could only consider 7% of the population as possible donors (O negative can only received O negative). Makes donor/recipient matching even tougher. But, hopefully, most people who have HCV don't have to face that scenario.
Floridamouse was referring to your HCV Genotype, not your Blood type
BTW, my blood type is also O Rhesus negative, but I don't see what it has to do with HCV treatment. Does anyone have anything on HCV tx and correlation with blood types? Have never read or heard anything about this subject.
All the best with tx,
Marcia
BTW, my blood type is also O Rhesus negative, but I don't see what it has to do with HCV treatment. Does anyone have anything on HCV tx and correlation with blood types? Have never read or heard anything about this subject.
All the best with tx,
Marcia
Hector: I have seen you respond to the Stage/Grade question before. I have to write this down as you put it so succinctly and I forget the details.
Debbie: If you are truly still Stage 1, you probably have time and shouldn't be worried about a transplant. But, like Hector says, you are armed with knowledge and have the probability of stopping the disease progression with TX. You genotype is a big factor, too. Since your chances of clearing the virus (SRV) are very good with a treatment that is half as long as the usual 48 weeks, then the benefit versus risk of the TX decision goes up considerably. Your choice. Having choice is a good thing!
Best of luck to you,
Brent
Debbie: If you are truly still Stage 1, you probably have time and shouldn't be worried about a transplant. But, like Hector says, you are armed with knowledge and have the probability of stopping the disease progression with TX. You genotype is a big factor, too. Since your chances of clearing the virus (SRV) are very good with a treatment that is half as long as the usual 48 weeks, then the benefit versus risk of the TX decision goes up considerably. Your choice. Having choice is a good thing!
Best of luck to you,
Brent
Thank you so much Hector...that gave me so much hope for the future...and yes I plan to be kind to my liver...I am not looking forward to tx but I am thankful I have that option.
Will keep you up on my progress..thanks for being there you are a wealth of information.
Peace
Will keep you up on my progress..thanks for being there you are a wealth of information.
Peace
Hi Debbie.
If a person is stage 2/3 does that mean that their disease will progress faster?
Your inflammation is 3 so the virus is active and creating more fibrosis.
"could you be that stage for along time?" It usually takes until you reach stage 3 before the your liver disease progression starts speeding up. (After DECADES of having the virus). Do you know how long you have been infected? It took me 38 years to reach stage 4 cirrhosis with a coinfection of Hep B to really add to the mix! So you have plenty of time. Years. So don't worry. And you are type 2 so you will most likely clear the virus! (75-80%) Lucky you!
When you treat and clear the virus (SVR) you will stop the progression of your liver disease. That is the purpose of treatment.
"I keep wondering what would have happened if I still did not know". That is the great thing. You know and can now do something about it!!!
Details:
“Stage” is the amount of fibrosis (scaring) detectable by biopsy…
from stage one (mild) to four (cirrhosis). Fibrosis is scar tissue that forms as a result of chronic inflammation and/or extensive liver cell death. Your health care provider uses the amount of fibrosis in your liver as one way of evaluating how quickly your disease appears to be progressing. knowing when you were initially infected with HCV is a great help in determining your rate of disease progression.
The Stage is assigned a number from 0-4:
• 0 = no scarring
• 1 = minimal scarring
• 2 = scarring has occurred and extends outside
the areas in the liver that contains blood vessels
• 3=bridging fibrosis is spreading and
connecting to other areas that contain fibrosis
• 4=cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver
“Grade” is the amount of inflammation, which is caused by the activity of the virus. Generally speaking, inflammation is the precursor to fibrosis.
The Grade is assigned a number based on the degree of inflammation, which is usually scored from 0-4 with 0 being no activity and 3 or 4 considered severe activity. The amount
of inflammation is important because it is considered a precursor to fibrosis.
So 2/3 means that you have scarring and that your liver is inflamed which is caused by the virus. The good news is your liver is healthy enough not to lessen your chances of clearing the virus.
You are genotype 2 which means you have a very good chance of clearing the virus. 75% to 80% achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR) when treated with the combination of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 24 weeks.
So you are at an excellent time to treat the virus and clear it. Then you will have no more progression of your liver disease. And can live the rest of your life as anyone can. But in the future please be kind to you liver.
Sounds like you have good medical care.
Hope this helps.
Hector
If a person is stage 2/3 does that mean that their disease will progress faster?
Your inflammation is 3 so the virus is active and creating more fibrosis.
"could you be that stage for along time?" It usually takes until you reach stage 3 before the your liver disease progression starts speeding up. (After DECADES of having the virus). Do you know how long you have been infected? It took me 38 years to reach stage 4 cirrhosis with a coinfection of Hep B to really add to the mix! So you have plenty of time. Years. So don't worry. And you are type 2 so you will most likely clear the virus! (75-80%) Lucky you!
When you treat and clear the virus (SVR) you will stop the progression of your liver disease. That is the purpose of treatment.
"I keep wondering what would have happened if I still did not know". That is the great thing. You know and can now do something about it!!!
Details:
“Stage” is the amount of fibrosis (scaring) detectable by biopsy…
from stage one (mild) to four (cirrhosis). Fibrosis is scar tissue that forms as a result of chronic inflammation and/or extensive liver cell death. Your health care provider uses the amount of fibrosis in your liver as one way of evaluating how quickly your disease appears to be progressing. knowing when you were initially infected with HCV is a great help in determining your rate of disease progression.
The Stage is assigned a number from 0-4:
• 0 = no scarring
• 1 = minimal scarring
• 2 = scarring has occurred and extends outside
the areas in the liver that contains blood vessels
• 3=bridging fibrosis is spreading and
connecting to other areas that contain fibrosis
• 4=cirrhosis or advanced scarring of the liver
“Grade” is the amount of inflammation, which is caused by the activity of the virus. Generally speaking, inflammation is the precursor to fibrosis.
The Grade is assigned a number based on the degree of inflammation, which is usually scored from 0-4 with 0 being no activity and 3 or 4 considered severe activity. The amount
of inflammation is important because it is considered a precursor to fibrosis.
So 2/3 means that you have scarring and that your liver is inflamed which is caused by the virus. The good news is your liver is healthy enough not to lessen your chances of clearing the virus.
You are genotype 2 which means you have a very good chance of clearing the virus. 75% to 80% achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR) when treated with the combination of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for 24 weeks.
So you are at an excellent time to treat the virus and clear it. Then you will have no more progression of your liver disease. And can live the rest of your life as anyone can. But in the future please be kind to you liver.
Sounds like you have good medical care.
Hope this helps.
Hector
Hector can you explain stage 2/3? I am somewhat confused on the different stages. I mean I understand the 0 being the best, one next and so on. If a person is stage 2/3 does that mean that their disease will progress faster? Or could you be that stage for along time? I will start treatment in July.. I only found out I had this 4 weeks ago..I have done all the testing and I am type 2.. when you start treating does that then slow down the progression? I keep wondering what would have happened if I still did not know.. I have been a wine drinker for the last few years.. I am seeing the Hep specialist at Cedars Sinai.. the doctor there even said to me (I know this will not sit well with a lot of people here) that once I clear the virus.... that in time I should be able to have a glass of wine once in awhile, that the liver is an amazing organ and can heal itself... of course I realize that all the damage will not go away.
Thanks
Thanks
Hi.
I'm a little confused because you say your Stage 1 but then mention "portal fibrosis" which is Stage 3. Stage 3 is severe fibrosis. At Stage 3, there is fibrostic bridging between portal areas and between portal areas and center veins.
Assuming you are Stage 1...it usually takes 3-4 decades (no alcohol or drugs please!) to progress to Stage 4 compensated cirrhosis and then to decompensated cirrhosis. And many people never progress that far. It is only at this advanced stage (decompensated cirrhosis) that you would ever need a liver transplant. So no need to even think about a transplant! Treatment by then will be so different we can't even imagine. HCV will probably be 100% curable by then. Our current treatment will be ancient history by then.
But if you want to treat now..go for it.
Crossing your fingers and toes is good. We all do it. But what is even better is to educate yourself about this disease, its treatment, and your chances of clearing the virus.
Hector
I'm a little confused because you say your Stage 1 but then mention "portal fibrosis" which is Stage 3. Stage 3 is severe fibrosis. At Stage 3, there is fibrostic bridging between portal areas and between portal areas and center veins.
Assuming you are Stage 1...it usually takes 3-4 decades (no alcohol or drugs please!) to progress to Stage 4 compensated cirrhosis and then to decompensated cirrhosis. And many people never progress that far. It is only at this advanced stage (decompensated cirrhosis) that you would ever need a liver transplant. So no need to even think about a transplant! Treatment by then will be so different we can't even imagine. HCV will probably be 100% curable by then. Our current treatment will be ancient history by then.
But if you want to treat now..go for it.
Crossing your fingers and toes is good. We all do it. But what is even better is to educate yourself about this disease, its treatment, and your chances of clearing the virus.
Hector
How cool, I'm also O-. I have a Stage 3/4 liver and am on my 2nd round of tx. I know since only 7% of the population has O- blood that it could be an issue.
Mouse
Mouse
thanks, as for tx i am going to go ahead and try. we are afraid if i wait we will not find a liver if i need a transplant. i am O- blood type meaning i can give to everyone but can only recieve O-. it is a very rare blood type anymore. and trying to find someone to donate is like waiting for pigs to fly so i figure what the heck my liver is good, and the nurse said that if i wait, not know how fast my liver is going, that my chances are good to get rid of it now then if i wait.
You do the shots yourself at home. You will probably have to do the first one at the doctor's office. What's your genotype? Being a stage 1 is a really good thing. This means you can take your time making a tx decisions and get things they way you want them in your personal life before starting. Heck, most geno 1's with stage 1 liver damage are opting to wait to see if a better tx comes along.
Mouse
Mouse
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